Back from a much-needed trip
After a trip that took me through my old college town en route to Chicago and back through my college town, I feel the kind of regeneration that comes from leaving a small town to eating in posh sushi restaurants and pushing one's way through crowds of highly-stressed businesspeople. While I loved the energy of Berlin, I used to long to escape the busy people and bad subway air by retreating to nature; the "Tiergarten" was a favorite of mine within the city. But inasmuch as the slower lifestyle and clean air of a small town is often better for the blood pressure level, the peppy, upbeat lifestyle of a city is also appealing, and just what I needed. I guess I just like a little of both!
Although I am not sure about the results of my audition yet, I do not feel hopeful. There were probably at least 60 people, if not more, auditioning for the positions. My audition had some rough spots, despite a rather deceiving, great warm-up. But I am at peace with the fact I might be staying here at home longer than planned and have notified the job placement agency to find something long-term for me.
But, back to the trip. In Chicago I was lucky enough to stay with my old friend Ewa from my college exchange year to Freiburg, Germany, a Polish-American from my program. She warmly hosted me for 3 nights and we had a great time catching up over Turkish food, coffee, and breakfast. Though she had to work each day, I was well taken care of. My good friend from college, Ali, and I got back in touch because of this good old blog, after losing contact for the past 3 years. I had a fun with her, her husband, and their adorable 2 1/2 year-old little girl, whom I met for the first time. They showed me around Chicago's Mexican neighborhood and the Mexican history/art museum and around Chinatown, where I found out I am "the year of the rooster".
Ali, Ewa, and I also met up and went to a fancy place called "The Walnut Room," an affordable but gorgeous restaurant in Macy's Department Store, where Ali said people stand in hour-long lines at Christmastime because of the huge Christmas tree they have every year. After that meal we headed over to the Symphony Center and enjoyed the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing "Alpine Symphony".
Though initially not sure what to do with my car while in Chicago, I decided parking in a ramp in the city was the safest option. And although I came during rush-hour traffic and left during morning traffic, I found Chicago to be kind of fun to drive in. The streets are fairly easy to navigate with a map and the rush of trying not to get honked at was also kind of fun!
The trip to Chicago is over 10 hours from my hometown, so I stopped in my old college town for the bookends of the trip which I also had been looking forward to doing since moving back to the States. It was an equally fun time. While there, I stayed with my sister and spent quality time with her and my brother who both go to school there. I also met up with my good friend Sam. He had stayed with me for a week in Berlin this past summer during the World Cup after he'd lived and taken a cooking class in Italy for a month. We had such a nice time in Berlin and it was good to see him back home. I also met up with my oboe professor and it's always fun to visit him and catch up. I missed seeing some other people who had moved away but it's also nice to know people who live in various parts of the country.
Of course, with every trip there is a catch and this time it was the weather. So, in the midst of one of the Midwest's worst winter storms, I got to spend a cold, wet half hour chipping and scraping an ice-encasement covering my car while standing in 2 inches of water and slush before meeting up with my professor. I spend the remainder of Sat. afternoon and evening in soaked-through shoes/socks and jeans. A lot of the city had lost power for several hours because of the amount of ice on the power lines, including my sister's apartment.
Because of the ice, slush, and snow conditions, resulting in many accidents and even the temporary closing of the interstate, I decided to wait until the coast was clear and make the 5 1/2 hour drive back home on Monday, instead of Sunday. It turned out for the best as I was able to spend a relaxing Sunday night with my sister, her boyfriend, and my brother and enjoy normal driving conditions on Monday.
All-in-all it was a very enjoyable trip and a great chance to see some old friends. So, with that trip behind me, and a pending loan payment due, let the intense job search begin!
Although I am not sure about the results of my audition yet, I do not feel hopeful. There were probably at least 60 people, if not more, auditioning for the positions. My audition had some rough spots, despite a rather deceiving, great warm-up. But I am at peace with the fact I might be staying here at home longer than planned and have notified the job placement agency to find something long-term for me.
But, back to the trip. In Chicago I was lucky enough to stay with my old friend Ewa from my college exchange year to Freiburg, Germany, a Polish-American from my program. She warmly hosted me for 3 nights and we had a great time catching up over Turkish food, coffee, and breakfast. Though she had to work each day, I was well taken care of. My good friend from college, Ali, and I got back in touch because of this good old blog, after losing contact for the past 3 years. I had a fun with her, her husband, and their adorable 2 1/2 year-old little girl, whom I met for the first time. They showed me around Chicago's Mexican neighborhood and the Mexican history/art museum and around Chinatown, where I found out I am "the year of the rooster".
Ali, Ewa, and I also met up and went to a fancy place called "The Walnut Room," an affordable but gorgeous restaurant in Macy's Department Store, where Ali said people stand in hour-long lines at Christmastime because of the huge Christmas tree they have every year. After that meal we headed over to the Symphony Center and enjoyed the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing "Alpine Symphony".
Though initially not sure what to do with my car while in Chicago, I decided parking in a ramp in the city was the safest option. And although I came during rush-hour traffic and left during morning traffic, I found Chicago to be kind of fun to drive in. The streets are fairly easy to navigate with a map and the rush of trying not to get honked at was also kind of fun!
The trip to Chicago is over 10 hours from my hometown, so I stopped in my old college town for the bookends of the trip which I also had been looking forward to doing since moving back to the States. It was an equally fun time. While there, I stayed with my sister and spent quality time with her and my brother who both go to school there. I also met up with my good friend Sam. He had stayed with me for a week in Berlin this past summer during the World Cup after he'd lived and taken a cooking class in Italy for a month. We had such a nice time in Berlin and it was good to see him back home. I also met up with my oboe professor and it's always fun to visit him and catch up. I missed seeing some other people who had moved away but it's also nice to know people who live in various parts of the country.
Of course, with every trip there is a catch and this time it was the weather. So, in the midst of one of the Midwest's worst winter storms, I got to spend a cold, wet half hour chipping and scraping an ice-encasement covering my car while standing in 2 inches of water and slush before meeting up with my professor. I spend the remainder of Sat. afternoon and evening in soaked-through shoes/socks and jeans. A lot of the city had lost power for several hours because of the amount of ice on the power lines, including my sister's apartment.
Because of the ice, slush, and snow conditions, resulting in many accidents and even the temporary closing of the interstate, I decided to wait until the coast was clear and make the 5 1/2 hour drive back home on Monday, instead of Sunday. It turned out for the best as I was able to spend a relaxing Sunday night with my sister, her boyfriend, and my brother and enjoy normal driving conditions on Monday.
All-in-all it was a very enjoyable trip and a great chance to see some old friends. So, with that trip behind me, and a pending loan payment due, let the intense job search begin!
posted by Heidi at 11:16 AM
3 Comments:
oh Heidi!! so glad to hear you had a good trip and well I would have to say one of your most uneventful ones!! well in the sense of something weird/bad happening!! besides the storm which is almost expected this time of year. well good luck finding a job as well as the audition...hope everything works out!! but then again I'm sure it all will!! miss ya
Hey very cool blog, I was just pressing the "Next Blog" button and I came across yours. I wish I could study music abroad somewhere, but I kind of just started studying music at the University of Akron, there is a pretty cool classical guitar program there, and I like it so far.
Hope all goes well for you in the great world of music! It's good to know that there are more musical people on this blogger thing..
Hey Jen, thanks! Yeah, this trip went pretty smoothly...maybe it's you and Megan who add to the craziness when I travel with you... :)
Matt, thanks for stopping by my blog. I would definitely encourage you to study music abroad - it's a great experience. Classical guitar is also very common to study in Europe; we had it in Berlin. I studied in Germany for the first time as a junior in college and received a scholarship so it definitely is possible. Good luck to you!
Post a Comment
<< Home